Aurora working to maintain safety, appearance of neighborhoods

With folks back out in their neighborhoods this spring, Aurora leaders are reminding residents of the importance of maintaining the safety and appearance of their property.

Aurora's department of neighborhood standards prosecuted a record 617 maintenance and zoning violations in 2007, more than double the 309 cases filed just two years ago. The city already is on pace to eclipse last year's record.

Mark Anderson, the department's assistant director, said several property owners were able to avoid prosecution by complying with various requirements before the first hearing date.

Some of the more common cases involve exterior structural violations, deteriorated porches, rotting windows and deteriorated fascias.

Some cases are triggered by complaints from neighbors, but city inspectors discover most of them during routine compliance checks and annual rental property inspections, Anderson said.

"The residents of this town expect a thorough and vigilant code enforcement department," he said. "Thankfully, most of our cases are resolved voluntarily, but we sometimes need to prosecute serious violations, repeat offenders and situations where violations are significant life-safety issues."

Appointing an administrative hearing officer to hear cases dealing with property maintenance and zoning violations has streamlined the legal process, Anderson said. But there are still some people who just won't comply.

In cases where property owners do not fully comply, fines ranging from $50 to $500 per day per violation may be imposed. The maximum fine in 2007 was $51,500 for what Anderson called a "severe exterior structure case."

"Imposing fines is a necessary part of adjudication as a way to compel compliance with important code standards," Anderson said, "particularly as the vast majority of affected buildings are occupied and in direct view of neighboring properties."

Employing a hearing officer results in the cases being settled faster, Anderson said.

Those officers also hear animal control and parking ticket cases and incidents dealing with impoundment of vehicles whose owners have violated the city's noise ordinance.